Dish washing and drying apparatus



July 12, 1955 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 A. H. MESSLER ETAL DISH WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors fliiafzfi Messier C/zaxflesRLgyis .5 Mg 0 5W 1423602 1253;

July 12, 1955 A. H. MESSLER ErAL 2,712,825

DISH WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jay. 5

i l I l I I I 1 s .[Fzvanzfars w ZianHMsasJgr Charlesfi L 514115 Patented July 12, 1955 2,712,825 DISH WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Allan H. Messier, West Hartford, and Charles R. Lewis, Hartford, Conn., assignors to Colts Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut The invention relates to a combined washing and drying apparatus for dishes, the apparatus comprising two sections or units arranged in tandem so that dishes may move from one to the other. The apparatus is in many respects similar to that disclosed 'n the copending application of Allan H. Messier and Harold D. Gaudet for Dish Washing and Drying Apparatus, Serial No. 192,006 filed October 25, 1950.

The principal object of the vide an apparatus of the general character set forth in the said application but which has the conveyor belts of the washing and drying sections operating at the same level and which is provided with power operated rollers for transferring dishes from one conveyor to the other. The said application discloses means for upwardly delivering jets of air between the two conveyor belts and in accordance with the present invention the said means is located between two of the said rollers. The rate of movement of the dishes is substantially uniform as they travel from one conveyor belt to the other, and it has been found that, under certain conditions of operation, this results in. a more effective preliminary removal of excess water from the dishes immediately following the washing operation.

In the drawings we have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of portions of a dish washing and drying apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view at the junccure between the washing and drying units.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being present invention is to prothat dishes move from the washing section to the drying section. The washing section and the drying section may conveniently constitute two more or less separate units 1'9 and 12. For convenience the washing and drying sections of the apparatus will be referred to as units, but it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to structurally separate units. These washing and drying units are positioned in end to end relationship so that the dishes after being washed in the washing unit are transferred to the drying unit for drying. The two units when structurally separate are connected with each other, at least to the extent hereinafter described in detail. They may be additionally connected, if found desirable.

Only portions of the washing unit and of the drying unit are shown. Except as herein otherwise described, the said units and the connections between them are or may be the same as those shown and described in the aforesaid copending application.

The washing unit comprises a main frame indicated generally at 14 and a housing 16 supported by the main frame, the housing being open at its opposite ends for the entry of the dishes to be washed and for the discharge thereof after washing. Mounted on the main frame and within the housing 16 is an endless conveyor belt 18, the

the drawings. The said upper run of the conveyor belt is adapted to support the dishes and to move them from the rear of the machine to the front thereof. The conveyor belt passes around rear and front supporting and driving drums. The drum at the front is shown at 20, this drum being mounted on a transverse shaft 22. The shaft 22 carries a sprocket wheel 24 and a chain 26 passes around the sprocket wheel. The chain 26 is driven by a sprocket wheel which is not shown and by other mechanism as set forth in the said Messler and Gaudet application.

The conveyor belt 18 is relatively wide and extends transversely through the major portion of the distance between the side walls of the housing 7.6, the upper run of the conveyor belt providing a fiat horizontal dish supporting face. The dishes are ordinarily supported directly on the conveyor belt 18, but they may be supported in suitable racks or carriers, which racks or movement, these devices serving to of washing and rinsing water upbelt is firmly suported.

The drying unit 12 comprises a main frame indicated generally at 30 and a housing 32 supported by the main frame,

discharge of dishes after drying. 30 and within the housing 32 is an endless conveyor belt 34, the upper run of the forward direction. The said upper run of the conveyor belt is adapted to support the dishes and to move them from the washing unit to the discharge opening at the front of the dryer unit. The conveyor belt 34 passes around rear and front supporting drums.

means of the drum at front and Gaudet application. The rate of movement of the conveyor belt 34 is the same or substantially the same as that of the conveyor belt 18.

The conveyor belt 34 is relatively wide and extends transversely through the major portion of the distances between the side walls of the housing 32, the upper run The conveyor belt 34 is foraminous and comprises a multiplicity of interconnected links 39, 39 which are transversely spaced so as to provide openings between them. The conveyor belt 34 may have rollers 40, 40

at its edges, these rollers travelling along horizontal angle bars 42 constituting tracks so that the upper run of the conveyor belt is firmly supported. Preferably the vertical legs of the angle bars 42. are extended toward the. right as shown at 43, 43 in Fig. 3. As shown, the conveyor belt 34 has a substantial amount of slack and horizontal angle bars 44 are provided which constitute tracks for supporting thelower run of the conveyor belt.

The washing unit housing 16 and the drying unit housing 32 are positioned in endto end relationship with their end walls closed adjacent each other. in order to prevent water from passing downward between the two end walls, a guard 45 is preferably provided; This guard extends transversely throughout substantially the entire w dths of the housings.

Means is provided for transferring dishes from the washing conveyor belt 18 to the driving conveyor belt 34, this means being generally indicated at 46. The two conveyor belts 18 and 34 move at substantially the same speed and as hereinafter explained in detail, the transfer means 46 comprises a plurality of power driven rollers. The rollers are driven at such a speed that the movement of the dishes is maintained without interruption from one conveyor belt to the other.

After the dishes have been washed in the washing unit and after they have left the washing unit conveyor belt 18, they are subjected to upward and downward moving jets of air. The air jets serve to blow any retained water from the faces of the dishes and also serve to dry the dishes. supplying air'under pressure to the air jets devices.

Means is preferably provided for delivering jets of air upward against the dishes after washing, this means being closely associated with the transfer means 46 between the two conveyors. The said air jet means is preferably a transverse horizontal manifold 48. Air is supplied to the manifold 48 by means of a pipe or hose 50. The mamfold 48 is provided with spaced apertures 52, 52, as shown in Fig. 3, for delivering air jets generally upward, but the said jets are preferably inclined rearward, that is, toward the washing unit.

Connected with the source of air supply 1s an upright pipe 54 which is connected with a manifold 56, the said air generally downward. The manifold 58 is positioned above the manifold 48, and it has jet apertures therein which are preferably positioned to deliver jets of air along lines that are inclined toward the front, that is, toward the drying unit. The manifold 58 is relatively close to'the path of dish movement over the transfer means 46 but is nevertheless at a sulficient elevation to ordinarily permit dishes to clear it as they are moved. In order that unusually large dishes, or a rack of dishes, may pass under the manifold, it is preferably carried by a supporting member in the form of a pipe 60 which is pivoted for movement about a transverse axis at 62. The pipe 6% communicates with the manifold 58 and is connected with a pipe 64 through which air is supplied. The two pipes 60 and 64 are so connected that the pipe 69 with the manifold 58 can freely move pivotally as stated. it will be observed that the pivotal axis at 62 is below the path of dish movement and is spaced forward from the manifold 58. Thus when the manifold 58 is engaged by a dish or dish rack it is moved upward and forward from its normal position to. permit the dish or rack to pass beneath it. It thereafter returns by gravity Means, not shown, is provided for to the position shown. Preferably, in order that the supporting member and manifold'may be more readily moved, a spring 66 is provided which tends to move them in the upward direction.

A second upper manifold 68 is provided which is similar to the manifold 58, being similarly carried by a supporting member or pipe 76 pivoted at 72 and connected to a pipe 74 through which air is supplied. The

manifold 68 is spaced forward from the manifold 58 and is above the manifold 56 and above the path of the dishes on the conveyor belt 34. It is similarly movable forward and upward when engaged by a large dish or by a dish rack.

It will be seen that the air jets from the manifolds 58 and 48 engage the dishes as they move along the transfer means 4'between the two conveyors. The dishes are ordinarily placed on the conveyor belt 18 with their top faces downward so that they will hold minimum quantitles of water from the washing operations, but they may be sometimes placed on the conveyor with theirtop faces upward, the dishes then holding relatively large quantities of water. The function of the jets from the manifolds 58 and 48 is to remove water-from the dishes by the force of air movement. As each dish moves over the transfer means its upper face encounters a wall of downward moving air from the manifold 53 and its lower face encounters a wall of upward moving air from the manifold 48. These walls of downward and upward moving air serve to prevent any substantial amounts of water from passing through them. The major portion of the water is thus wiped from the faces of the dishes before they enter the drying unit.

Obviously, the only water on the lower faces of the dishes is that retained by surface adhesion. Much larger quantities of water may be held by the upper faces of the dishes. It has been found by tests and by experience that the water held by the upper faces of the dishes is more effectively wiped or blown off when the jets from the manifold 58 are inclined forward as shown and when the jets from the manifold 48 are inclined rearward as shown. With the jets thus inclined, the major portion of the water is not only removed, but the major portion thereof is driven rearward with considerable force into the washing unit.

The transfer means 46 comprises a plurality of transversely extending horizontal rollers so positioned that they are tangent or substantially tangent. at their tops to a horizontal plane through the upper dish supporting faces of the upper runs of the conveyor belts 18 and 34.

As shown, there are four rollers 76, 78, and 82, these rollers being supported at their ends by means of vertical longitudinal side plates 84 and 86.

Preferably the plates 84 and 86 are supported on the frame 14 of the washing unit. As shown, there is a transverse supporting member or bar 88, preferably an angle bar, which extends entirely across the washing unit. The plates 84 and 86 are connected with the supporting bar 88. and as' shown they are provided respectively with flanges 90 and 92 which are connectedwith the said bar 88 by bolts 94 of which only one appears in the drawings. Preferably the flanges90 and 5*2 are slotted at 96 and 98 to permit transverse adjustment of the plates 84 and 86 and of the parts carried thereby relative to the angle bar 88. Vertical angle bars or brackets 100 and 102 are secured to the frame 14 of the washing unit, and horizontal plates 104 and 106 are welded or otherwise secured to the angle bars or brackets 100 and 182 at the bottoms thereof. The transverse angle bar 88 is connected with the angle bars 100 and 102 by means of bolts 108 and 110;

Slots are provided as shown at 112 for the bolts 108 and 110, these slots permitting the angle bar 88 and the parts carried thereby to be adjusted vertically. For effecting vertical adjustment screws 114 and 116 extend through the horizontal plates 104 and 1% and emerge the bottom of the angle bar 88.

The washing and drying units are ordinarily constructed separately and are placed in proper final relationship with each other during installation. The described adjustability of the angle bar 88 and of the parts carried thereby makes it possible to compensate for minor inaccuracies in the installed relationship of the two units. When the plates are in their properly adjusted positions they preferably engage the projecting portions 43, 43 of the angle bars 42 as shown in Fig. 3.

One of the transfer rollers, which may be the roller 80,

An endless chain 128 passes around the sprocket wheels 124 and 126 and serves to rotate the shaft 118 and the roller whenever the drying unit conveyor is in operation. A gear 130 is connected with the shaft 118 immediately adjacent the vertical plate 84.

Each of the rollers 76, 78 and 82 is mounted on a longitudinal rod 132 which extends between the vertical plates 84 and 86, being connected with the said plates by bolts 134 and 136. The roller 76 is provided at the ends with bushings 138 and 140 which are rotatable on the corresopnding rod 132, the bushing 138 carrying a gear 142 immediately adjacent the vertical plate 34. The rollers 78 and 82 are similarly supported on their respective rods 132, a gear 1 .4 being provided for the roller 78 and a gear 146 being provided for the roller 82 An idler gear 143 is provided between and meshing with the gears 142 and 144, an idler gear 150 is provided between and meshing with the gears 144 and 130, and an idler gear 151 is provided between and meshing with the gears 13%) and 146. The idler gear 156 is mounted on a bushing 152 secured to the plate 84 by a bolt 153. By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that by means of the chain 128 and the described gears the several rollers 76. 78, 80 and 82 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction, that is, in the direction to transfer the cL'shes from right to left from the washing conveyor belt 18 to the drying conveyor belt 34.

Cooperating with the several rollers 76, 78, 80 and 32 are longitudinally extending vertical dish guide plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 which are located between the ends of the rollers and between the side plates 84 and 86 and are transversely spaced. The said plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 are carried by transverse rods 16!), 160 which extend through holes in the said plates and between the side plates 34 and 86. The plates 156, 158 adjacent side plates are preferably shorter than the other plates 154, 154.

A spacing bushing 162 surrounds each rod 164 between the plate 156 and the plate 84, the plate 156 being held in engagement with the said bushing by a nut 164 threaded on the rod. The before-mentioned idler gears 148 and 151 are mounted on the bushings 162. A spacing bush ing 166 surrounds each rod 160 between the plate 158 and the plate 86, the plate 158 being held in engagement with the said bushing by a nut 168 threaded on the rod. Spacing bushings 170, 170 surround the rods 16%, 166 between each two plates 154, 154. The plates are held in engagement with the bushings by nuts 172, 172 threaded on the rods.

The several guide plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 are notched to receive the rollers 76, 78, 86 and 82. The upper edges of the plates are at a level slightly below that of the tops of the rollers, so as not to interfere with the engagement of the rollers with the dishes. The end portions of the longer guide plates 154, 154 are preferably beveled as shown. When the conveyor belts 18 and 34 comprise transversely spaced links such as 27, 27 and 39, 39, the ends of the plates 154, 154 preferably extend between the links as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The several plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 serve to guide the dishes and hold the lower faces thereof substantially horizontal so that they can be properly engaged by the rollers. If

the guide plates were not provided, it would be possible for dishes, particularly small dishes, to tilt and enter the spaces between the rollers. As shown the rear and front rollers 76 and 82 have annular grooves therein and the plates 154, 154 are so notched that they extend into the said grooves.

The plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 are formed of a suitable non-metallic material, and as shown the rollers 76, 8t) and 82 are formed of a similar material such as a phenolic resin. The roller 78 is shown as comprising an inner tube 174 formed of a material such as a phenolic resin and an outer tube 176 formed of rubber or a rubber substitute. The rubber covered roller 78 provides increased frictional engagement with the dishes. The invention is not limited to the provision of only one rubber covered roller, and some or all of the Other rollers 76, S9 and 82 may also be rubber covered.

The before mentioned transverse horizontal manifold 48 for the delivery of upward directed air jets is so positioned that the air jets are delivered between two of the rollers, and as shown it is positioned for the delivery of the air jets between the rollers 78 and 80. The manifold 48 extends through holes in the guide plates 154, 154, 156 and 158 and is supported by the said plates. The axis of the manifold is coincident with the am's of the idler gear 144, the corresponding end of the manifold being closed. The manifold extends through a hole in the opposite vertical plate 86, being connected with the aforesaid air supply pipe 50. The jet apertures 52, 52 are so spaced that they are between the several guide plates. Thus the jets are delivered not only between the rollers 78 and 80 but also between the said guide plates.

The air jets from the upper manifold 58 and from the lower manifold 48 serve to remove the major portion of the water from the dishes while they are passing from the conveyor belt 18 to the conveyor belt 34. Inasmuch as the dishes are travelling at a controlled uniform speed as they pass the said jets, the water is removed effectively and to a uniform extent.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a dish washing and drying apparatus, the combination of a washing unit having an endless foraminous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are washed, the said conveyor comprising interconnected transversely spaced links and the upper run of the said conveyor belt being horizontal and being movable in the forward direction, a drying unit located at the forward end of the washing unit and having an endless foraminous conveyor belt for carr ing dishes as they are dried, the said conveyor comprising interconnected transversely spaced links and the upper run of the last said conveyor belt being horizontal and at approximately the same level as the upper run of the first said conveyor belt and being also movable in he forward direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse horizontal rollers interposed between the forward end of the washing conveyor belt and the rearward end of the drying conveyor belt, the said rollers being substantially tangent at their tops to a plane through the upper dish supporting faces of the upper runs of the two conveyor belts, means for rotating the said rollers in the direction to cause the tops thereof to move in the forward direction so that the rollers serve to transfer dishes from the washing conveyor belt to the drying conveyor belt, means for delivering jets of air upward between two of the rollers to remove water from the lower faces of the dishes passing over the rollers, and a plurality of vertical transversely spaced longitudinal guide plates adjacent the rollers and between the ends thereof which plates have notches open at the top within which the rollers are positioned and which plates have their top faces horizontal and at a level slightly below the plane of the tops of the rollers, the said longitudinal guide plates extending at their ends between the transversely spaced links of the tWo conveyor belts.

dish supporting faces of the upper runs of the gearing adjacent one of 2. in a dish washing and drying apparatus, the com: bination of a washing unit having an endless forarninous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are washed, the upper run of the said conveyor belt being horizontal and being movable in the forward direction, a drying unit located at the forward end of the wast unit and having an endless foraaninous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are dried, the upper run of the last said conveyor belt being horizontal and at approximately the same level as the upper run of the first said conveyor belt and being also movable in the e direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse horizontal rollers interposed between the forward end of the washing conveyor beltand the rearward end of the drying conveyor belt, the said rollers being substantially tangent at their tops to a plane through the upper two conveyor belts, a transverse horizontal supporting member below the rollers, two brackets in fixed positions adjacent the ends of the supporting member, two means associated with the respective brackets and engageabic with the supporting member for adjusting it vertically, two means associated with the respective brackets and engageable with the supporting member to clamp it any adjusted position, two longitudinal vertical side plates above the supporting member and connected therewith which side plates are adjacent the ends of the rollers, bearings for the rollers carried by the side plates, power operated V the side plates and connected with the rollers for rotating them in the direction to cause the tops thereof to move in the forward direction so that the rollers serve to transfer dishes from the washing conveyor belt to the drying conveyor belt, and a transversely extending manifold located between two of the rollers and having apertures in the top thereof for delivering jets of air upward between the said two rollers which maniicld is carried by the said longitudinal vertical side plates.

3. in a dish washing and drying apparatus, the cornbination of a washing unit having an endless foraminous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are washed, the upper run of the said conveyor belt being horizontal and being movable in the forward direction, a drying unit located at the forward end of the washing unit and having an endless forarninous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are dried, the upper run of the last said conveyor belt being horizontal and at approximately the same level as the upper run of the first said conveyor belt and being also movable the forward direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse horizontal rollers interposed between the forward end of the washing conveyor belt and the rearward end of the drying conveyor belt, the said rollers being substantially tangent at their tops to a plane throu 1 the upper dish supporting faces of the upper runs of the two conveyor belts, a transverse horizontal supporting member in a normally fixed position below the rollers, two longitudinal vertical side plates above the supporting member and connected therewith, the said side plates being adjacent the ends of the rollers, bearings for the rollers carried by the side plates, power operated gearing adjacent one of the side plates and connected with the rollers for rotating them in the direction to cause the tops thereof to move in the forward direction so that the rollers serve to transfer dishes from the washing conveyor belt to the drying conveyor belt, a plurality of vertical transversely spaced longitudinal guide plates adjacent the rollers and between the ends thereof and between the side plates, each guide plate having notches open at the top within which the rollers are positioned and each guide plate having its top face horizontal and at a level slightly below the plane of the tops of the rollers, and transverse horizontal rods for supporting the guide plates which rods extend t. rough the guide plates and are connected. at their ends with the side plates, and a transversely extending manifold located between two of the rollers and having apertures in the top thereof iii) for delivering jets of air upward between the said two rollers which manifold is carried by the said longitudinal vertical side plates. 7

4. In a dish washing and drying apparatus, the combination of a washing unit having an endless foraminous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are washed, the upper run of the said conveyor belt being horizontal and being movable in the forward direction, a drying unit located at the forward end of the Washing unit and having an endless forarninous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are dried, the upper run of the last said conveyor e t being horizontal and at approximately the same level as the upper run of the first said conveyor belt and being also movable in the forward direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse horizontal rollers interposed between the forward end of the washing conveyor belt and the rearward end of the drying conveyor belt, the said rollers being substantially tangent at their tops to a plane through the upper faces of the upper runsof the two conveyor belts, means for rotating the said rollers in the direction to cause the tops thereof to move in the forward direction so that the rollers serve to transfer dishes from the washing conveyor belt to the drying conveyor belt, and means for delivering jets of air upward between two of the rollers to remove water from the lower faces of the dishes passing over the rollers.

5. A dish washing and drying apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the means for delivering jets of air is a transverse horizontal manifold located between two of the rollers and having apertures in the top thereof.

6. In a dish washing and drying apparatus, the combination of a washing unit having an endless foraminous conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are washed, the upper run of the said conveyor belt being horizontal and being movable in the forward direction, a drying unit located at the forward end of the washing unit and having an endless foramineus conveyor belt for carrying dishes as they are dried, the upper run of the last said conveyor belt being horizontal and at approximately the same level as the upper run of the first said conveyor belt and being also movable in the forward direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse horizontal rollers interposed between the forward end of the washing conveyor belt and the rearward end of the drying conveyor belt, the said rollers being substantially tangent at their tops to a plane through the upper dish supporting faces of the upper runs of the two conveyor belts, means for rotating the said rollers in the direction to cause the tops thereof to move in the forward direction so that the rollers serve to transfer dishes from the washing conveyor belt to the drying conveyor belt, a plurality of vertical transversely spaced longitudinal guide plates adjacent the rollers and between the ends thereof, each plate having notches open at the top within which. the rollers are positioned and each plate having its top face horizontal and at a level slightly below the plane of the tops of the rollers, and means for delivering jets of air upward between the two rollers and between the several guide plates to remove water from the lower faces of dishes passing over the rollers.

7. A dish washing and drying apparatus as set forthin claim 6, wherein the means for delivering jets of air is a transverse horizontal manifold located between two of the rollers and extending through holes in the guide plates, the said manifold having apertures in the top thereof which are located between the several guide plates References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

